Carra hails Brendan, back three and Can

Three at the back and three in attack, tested as early as October by Brendan Rodgers and implemented fully two months later, restored the Reds to a team regularly earning three points.

When the manager submitted his teamsheet at Old Trafford on December 14, an hour of pondering began. How would the side line up? Who would play where?

Kick-off and the opening exchanges confirmed the system was now 3-4-3.

"I am an innovative coach and I needed to find a way to make us play better," explained Rodgers. "I knew I had to do something fairly radical."

A 3-0 reversal against Manchester United that day did not paint a full picture of how confidently Liverpool had performed at the home of one of their great rivals.

Composure in possession, energetic pressing, balance and belief had returned. Hope sprung and they have never been the same since.

The Reds have not suffered a defeat in the 12 Barclays Premier League games that followed.

They have not conceded a goal away from home in the division since.

A season of frustration has been transformed into one of potential, with Champions League qualification suddenly realistic with 10 matches remaining.

"Credit to the manager," Jamie Carragher, former Anfield centre-back and now television analyst, told Liverpoolfc.com this week.

Watch the video here »

"He changed it and came up with the system and the players within the system are playing really well.

"[Simon] Mignolet has had plenty of clean sheets, but he's not being asked to do too much and that's the way it should be. You want to call upon your 'keeper maybe two or three times a game.

"As I saw here in the Blackburn game, he wasn't called upon too much but then he made a great save from a set-piece at the Kop end and kept Liverpool in the cup.

"That's what you want from your 'keeper - you don't want him involved too much - and that's credit to the backline.

"Martin Skrtel has been fantastic in the middle of the back three as the leader.

"He's been there the longest now and is the most experienced player at the club behind Steven Gerrard and Lucas [Leiva]. He's in great form. He wanted to stay on against Blackburn and that's what you want to see.

"Credit to all of those players - [Mamadou] Sakho and [Dejan] Lovren coming in. They all deserve great credit."

After Carragher clocked up his 737th appearance for the club and retired in 2013, his No.23 shirt was left vacant for the next campaign.

But when Emre Can sealed his switch to Merseyside last summer, the versatile German's appreciation for the Scouser inspired him to take the jersey.

During the past three months, he has worn it with suitable distinction.

The midfielder was initially deployed in defence as a substitute at Burnley on Boxing Day, taking to the position with stunning aplomb.

His technical ability is sound, his positioning is astute, his decision-making is reliable and his sheer power an added bonus - all without a hair out of place.

"I think he's done really well," continued Carragher. "Now and then he's gone back into midfield, but he's looked more suited to playing at the back now.

"He was bought as a midfield player who has moved to the back, but the performances he is putting in, in that position, have you thinking 'Keep him there'.

"If he's playing well, let him carry on. He's still a young player and he may go into midfield with Stevie moving on in the summer.

"But I think for this season he should stay there as he's been outstanding. The defensive record has improved since he has been there.

"If you're playing well and the team is doing well, he should stay where he is.

"At the start of next season things may have changed - the formation may have changed, there may have been players coming and going and the manager may have to look at that.

"He just looks so suited to this back-three formation.

"It gives him time to step into midfield - even though we're saying he's playing at the back, he's actually playing in midfield as well because he can step in and add that extra man."